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The Clinchfield Loops - J: Speedy Tunnel
Photos
Photo taken by Calvin Sneed in March 2012
Enlarge
BH Photo #227050
Description
One of only 2 tunnels in the 17-tunnel Clinchfield Loops segment that is completely lined with concrete. Although it is slight skewed, configuration of the tunnel in relation to the three nearest it, suggests that Speedy Tunnel was designed to prevent a much more difficult skew of the line around a small rock outcropping of the Blue Ridge, necessitating a speed reduction of trains ascending and descending the mountain; hence the name "Speedy" Tunnel.
Facts
- Overview
- Tunnel under Short Extension of the Blue Ridge on Clinchfield Railroad (now CSX)
- Location
- McDowell County, North Carolina
- Status
- Open to traffic
- History
- Built as part of the S & W's Altapass to Marion segment; rehabilitated 1914
- Railroads
- - CSX Railroad (CSX)
- Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio Railroad (CCO; Clinchfield)
- South & Western Railway (S&W)
- Design
- 2 concrete portals, north and south, tunnel completely lined in concrete
- Dimensions
-
Total length: 288.0 ft.
Deck width: 18.0 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 22.0 ft.
- Also called
- Speedy Tunnel
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +35.86211, -82.02708 (decimal degrees)
35°51'44" N, 82°01'37" W (degrees°minutes'seconds")
- Approximate UTM coordinates
- 17/407269/3969141 (zone/easting/northing)
- Quadrangle map:
- Little Switzerland
- Elevation
- 2291 ft. above sea level
- Inventory number
- BH 51627 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Update Log
- March 6, 2012: Added by Calvin Sneed
Sources
- Calvin Sneed - us43137415 [at] yahoo [dot] com